Lisbon region offers much to see for convention attendees
by Susie Ma
The Rotarian -- September 2012
Dramatic views await Rotarians attending the 2013 RI Convention in Lisbon, Portugal.
L ess than 20 miles west of Lisbon, Portugal, Rotarians attending the 2013 RI Convention, 23-26 June, can take in dramatic views of the Atlantic atop rocky cliffs, relax on soft sandy beaches, and channel their inner James Bond in a casino town formerly known as a playground for European royalty.
The seaside escapes of Estoril and Cascais are close enough for an easy day trip from Lisbon. Cascais offers beaches, shopping, and restaurants, along with a rock formation known as Boca do Inferno, or Hell’s Mouth, that is worth the 20-minute walk from town. Estoril – a quiet but popular resort area less than 2 miles from Cascais and accessible from there by boardwalk – is home to Europe’s largest casino.
Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, is 10 miles down the coast from Cascais. The Cabo da Roca lighthouse, sitting high above the Atlantic, makes for a pretty picture at sunset. A stone monument dedicated by the Rotary Club of Sintra in honor of Rotary’s 75th anniversary in 1980 is also perched cliffside.
The Algarve region, about 175 miles south of Lisbon, is a popular holiday destination among Europeans. Its towns offer breathtaking ocean vistas and pristine beaches, plus golfing and windsurfing. Like much of Portugal, the area has a strong maritime influence: In the 15th century, Prince Henry the Navigator chose the town of Lagos in the Algarve as his base for expeditions.